Rubber Deficit Seen for 3 Years Through 2018: Rubber Economist

Natural rubber consumption seen expanding through 2018, outpacing production growth, the Rubber Economist says in report. Output estimate at 12.388m tons in 2016; demand at 12.538m tons; deficit of 151,000 tons. Output est. at 13.069m tons in 2017; demand at 13.088m tons; deficit of 19,000 tons. Output estimate at 13.299m tons in 2018; demand at 13.672m tons; deficit of 373,000 tons. Production totaled 12.277m tons in 2015; demand 12.146m tons; surplus 131,000 tons. Synthetic rubber demand seen -0.5% y/y to 14.497m tons in 2016; output +0.9% y/y to 14.584m tons. Synthetic rubber surplus seen 2016-2018.

NOTE: The Rubber Economist is London-based industry researcher